Women in Crosby death not guilty of murder; convicted of voluntary manslaughter, assault

Candace Brito fights to hold back tears as jurors affirm their decision to convict her and another woman, Vanesa Tapia Zavala, of voluntary manslaughter and assault for beating to death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham outside The Crosby, a Santa Ana nightclub. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Two women were convicted Thursday of voluntary manslaughter and assault for beating to death another woman during a brawl outside a Santa Ana nightclub.

Candace Marie Brito and Vanesa Tapia Zavala face up to 11 years in prison for their role in the death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham. But an Orange County Superior Court jury rejected the more serious second-degree murder charges.

Brito and Zavala quietly cried as the verdict was read, but reaction among the large crowd in the courtroom was subdued.

Outside the courtroom, Pham’s family said they were satisfied with the verdict.

Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino, who prosecuted the case, described the jury’s verdict as a compromise, noting that prosecutors were trying for maximum convictions while the pair’s defense attorneys aimed for exoneration.

“They found something in between,” he said. “It’s not unreasonable.”

Michael Molfetta, Brito’s attorney, said he wasn’t surprised by the jury’s decision. While both Brito and Zavala reacted with tears at hearing the verdict, Molfetta noted that by not being found guilty of second-degree murder, they avoided the possibility of spending life in prison.

“At most it’s manslaughter; that’s what I always said. These girls didn’t intend to kill anybody; that’s the difference,” Molfetta said. “It was not a murder. It should never have been filed as murder.”

The chaotic fight in the early minutes of Jan. 18 started as Brito and Zavala’s group was walking out of The Crosby, a club in downtown Santa Ana. Their friend Emelia Calderon and someone in Pham’s group apparently bumped into each other.

Calderon told her friends Pham had said something and the two women began arguing and cursing on the sidewalk.

By several witnesses’ accounts, Pham threw the first punch, which Zavala said hit her. Videos showing parts of the ensuing brawl – though not showing how it started – were caught on bystanders’ cellphones, helping to bring national attention to the case.

In his closing argument, Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino told jurors there was overwhelming evidence both Brito and Zavala kicked Pham in the head while she was on the ground fighting with Calderon.

Pino said Pham was not a threat to anyone’s life at the time and called the kicks “cheap shots” taken in retribution.

Candace Brito fights to hold back tears as jurors affirm their decision to convict her and another woman, Vanesa Tapia Zavala, of voluntary manslaughter and assault for beating to death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham outside The Crosby, a Santa Ana nightclub. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Vanesa Zavala keeps her head down and her face hidden as jurors affirm their decision to convict her of voluntary manslaughter and assault for beating to death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Attorney Michael Molfetta, who represented Candace Brito speaks to the media following his client's conviction Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Ken Nguyen, Annie Kim Pham's stepbrother, speaks to the media following the conviction of his sister's killers in Santa Ana Thursday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Annie Kim Pham, 23, died after a Jan. 18 fight outside a nightclub in Santa Ana. FILE PHOTO: KEN STEINHARDT, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
James Pham, father of Annie Kim Pham, speaks to the media following Thursday's verdict announcement. Two women were convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault for beating to death another woman during a brawl outside a Santa Ana nightclub. Candace Marie Brito and Vanesa Tapia Zavala were found not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham. The fight in the early minutes of Jan. 18 started as Brito and Zavala's group was walking out of The Crosby, a nightclub in downtown Santa Ana. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
James Pham, father of Annie Kim Pham, speaks to the media following Thursday's verdict announcement. Two women were convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault for beating to death another woman during a brawl outside a Santa Ana nightclub. Candace Marie Brito and Vanesa Tapia Zavala were found not guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 23-year-old Ann JOSHUA SUDOCK , STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Deputy district attorney Troy Pino fights back tears as he talks about the beating death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham after Thursday's conviction of her killers Candace Marie Brito and Vanesa Tapia Zavala. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Vanesa Zavala, shown entering the courtroom on Thursday, kept her head down while the verdict was read. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Defendants Candace Brito, left, and Vanesa Zavala enter the courtroom in Santa Ana. The pair were convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault, but not guilty of second-degree murder. FILE PHOTO: JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Defendants Candace Brito, left, and Vanesa Zavala enter the courtroom in Santa Ana. The pair were convicted of voluntary manslaughter and assault, but not guilty of second-degree murder. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Candace Brito listens as attorneys deliver their closing arguments in a Santa Ana courtroom Tuesday. FILE PHOTO: JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Defendant Vanesa Zavala listens as Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino delivers his closing arguments in the case her and another women,Candice Brito, who both faced charges related to the beating death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Candace Brito listens as attorneys deliver their closing arguments in a Santa Ana courtroom Tuesday. JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Defendant Vanesa Zavala listens as Deputy District Attorney Troy Pino delivers his closing arguments in the case her and another women,Candice Brito, who both faced charges related to the beating death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham. FILE PHOTO: JOSHUA SUDOCK, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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